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Looking to find the "bang for it's buck" processor for WoW Cataclysm

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Brett Magnetic

Registered
Joined
Aug 13, 2011
Location
Wisconsin
This is going to be a PC that is dedicated soley to World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. I am not worried about upgrading to SLI or Crossfire later.

Here is all I've chosen so far, the video card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133326
GeForce GTX 460 1GB

So what I'm looking for in a processor(I know that WoW very heavily uses the processor, especially when around a lot of other toons) is the best bang for my buck. Doesn't matter which brand, but what I want is to pay the LEAST amount for the processor for the BEST performance to dollar ratio. If I can get a processor for $100 that takes my WoW experience to 83% versus a processor for $230 that takes my WoW experience to 95%, I am looking for the $100 option, if you get my drift.

What's processor will give me that best bang for my buck?? Hoping to spend $140 or less. If you can give me any ideas and your reasoning it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
Alas, cpu's are priced according their speed. If amd had a sandy bridge killer, it certainly would be more expensive than the intel one.
So you will get xx speed for xx price.
I don't know which cpu is needed to enjoy wow to the fullest, and I don't know which cpu will get you that 85%.
But I suppose you have to be willing to pay the price for that cpu in particular.
 
Hy!

As far as I know, I dont think you might find a CPU for WoW with that budget. If you could just get $70 more, you could get the Intel Core i5-2500k, which is a very good CPU. At stock it gives you 3,3GHz and 4 cores, which you can afterwards OC, but even at stock it can deliver a pretty awesome performance.

Im assuming this cuz previously I had an AMD Athlon II x2 255(Dual Core 3,1GHz), and at points in the game I had pretty low FPS. This is why I think a dual core CPU wont suffice.
You might, however, take a look at this CPU, and read some reviews on it.
 
Hy!
This is why I think a dual core CPU wont suffice.

Too bad WoW doesn't use more then two cores... :shrug:

I think an AMD Phenom X5 955 is the way to go for you. Your other option is a lower end dual-core Sandy Bridge. I'm not sure which one would perform better, but you can't OC the Sandy Bridge. IMO, specifically in WoW the Sandy Bridge would perform better, but the 955 would win in other games.

It's up to these two IMO:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115077 <-- You could also get the 2100, it's just clocked at 3.1 GHz, but remember, you CAN'T overclock.
 
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You won't notice a difference in WOW between a dual core 2.8GHz chip and a quad core at 4.0GHz (at least I didn't). The most massive change came from running a better graphics card with DX11 optimizations enabled.
 
Too bad WoW doesn't use more then two cores... :shrug:

I think an AMD Phenom X5 955 is the way to go for you. Your other option is a lower end dual-core Sandy Bridge. I'm not sure which one would perform better, but you can't OC the Sandy Bridge. IMO, specifically in WoW the Sandy Bridge would perform better, but the 955 would win in other games.

It's up to these two IMO:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115077 <-- You could also get the 2100, it's just clocked at 3.1 GHz, but remember, you CAN'T overclock.

+1 for the AMD X4 955...
 
955 ftw or get a 555 with a mobo that unlocks and try for 1-2 more cores free, but as i recall alot of people are running wow on 555x2's just fine....
 
I actually have picked up the X3, got for $75 with a Radeon HD 5450 1GB bundled in for an extra $10, free ship, after rebates. I will be buying a Bulldozer after it comes out.
 
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